MENDOLE. 
207 
fish, and usually keeps near the land in places where sea- 
weeds abound, feeding on them, as well as enjoying their 
shelter, but not refusing to take a bait. Oppian says — 
“Close to green shores the watery natives feed, 
That hide in wrack and bite the spiry weed. 
Such food the Cackercls and the Groats approve.’’ 
They were never held in reputation for the table, and 
anciently were considered as food only for the lower orders 
of society. Martial terms them “inutiles msenas,” worthless 
Mendoles; and another poet, describing a poor dinner-hunter, 
represents him as disappointed in his search, and then returning 
to satisfy his hunger on these fishes. Hence it was a proverb 
at Rome that they only were indifFerent to the pleasure of the 
table who would as soon dine on a Mendole as a Sturgeon; 
yet our countryman, Willoughby, represents them as agreeable 
food: but the discrepancy is explained by Lacepede, who 
says that when in their best condition they are not to be 
despised, and that the females in full roe are delicious. The 
principal use made of them in ancient times was as sauce for 
other fishes, and this we learn to have been formed chiefly 
from their entrails. 
Mr. Cock’s description of the Cornish example is: — The 
body oblong, compressed, and covered with large scales: the 
mouth small and protractile; jaws with a narrow band of 
minute fine-pointed teeth, densely packed together; a longitu- 
dinal band of the same along the middle of the palate (the 
vomer.) An elongated scale above each ventral fin, and one 
between these fins. Eyes large. Upper surface of the body 
dark lead grey, with bright silvery sides and belly. The 
length nine inches and a half, depth two inches and a 
quarter. But the most remarkable circumstance that belongs 
to this fish is its great diversity of colour in different places 
and seasons. Lacepede says it is generally white, with blue 
stripes along the side; a long dark spot on the side, above 
the vent; the fins red: but the colours become more lively 
in summer, and are generally so on the coast of Africa. 
Willoughby describes the colour as pale green or dusky 
yellow, with blue lines, and a large round dark blotch on 
the side, with spots and lines running obliquely over the 
